Whether you’re a fan of the great outdoors or fancy yourself a survivalist, one key survival skill is knowing how to make a fire, but not just any fire, one that doesn’t require you to have matches or a lighter in hand.
From fending off wild animals to ensuring you stay warm; you will never know when this skill may come in handy.
Here, we delve into an array of creative and unusual fire-making methods. Continue reading to discover amazing methods to make fire with a twist.
- Start A Fire with A Tasty Snack
If you’re a fan of chips, you will likely have some tucked away in the cupboard or in your bag! If you can’t bear to part with these tasty treats, you’ll discover they make fuel for fire, too! For best results, keep in mind that the greasier the chips, the better the fire.
Why? More fat means more fuel.
But you must be wondering how to start a fire without a lighter?
Begin by removing the chips from their bag; simply set them alight using a spark, and you’re good to go! This fire can then be used to create an even bigger source of heat or light if required.
- Dryer Lint
Most modern-day homes house a dryer, and with that comes dryer lint. Instead of throwing the lint away the next time you go to remove it, store it in a dry container and save it for when you need to make a fire.
It’s extremely easy to light, has great lasting power, and will certainly come in handy should you experience a power cut!
- Chapstick is Not Just for Lips
Almost everyone owns a ChapStick. Many of us own several. They’re often in the bottom of bags, on the bathroom cabinet, or in our car. As well as promising silky lips, a wax based ChapStick is also a great fire starter.
To create a fire using this object, smear a little of the ChapStick onto a flammable surface and create a spark, or add a wick to your ChapStick, and voila, you have a homemade candle.
- Guitar Pick
One for music fans! The guitar pick is available in a variety of materials, ranging from metal to plastic to wood. Each of these materials boasts diverse properties, with some being more flammable than others, particularly those crafted from celluloid.
Whether you’re at home or have a musician on a camping trip, using this piece of plastic is a great way to start a fire. All you need is a stick (easily found in the garden or forest), some dry tinder, and a spark.
Using a blade, cut a crevice for the pick in the stick, create a little dust by rubbing the edge of the pick with the blade, and finally, add some fire.
- Soda and Beer Cans
Most of us know how to make a fire with lighter fluid, flint, and other traditional fire-starting materials; however, do you know how to make a fire without a lighter?
A can crafted out of aluminum does a similar job. How? When a soda or beer can is positioned directly in the light’s rays for long periods, providing the surface of the can is extremely shiny, it will begin to smoke.
- Citrus Fruits
Instead of tucking your orange, use it to start a fire! Citrus oils are highly flammable; if you can spark an orange, you can easily create a fire.
Simply mark a hole in the orange’s surface and remove some flesh. Allow the orange to dry before placing a hard rock inside.
Rub the tool in a speedy motion using a stick or knife. This motion will ensure the rock sparks, thus creating a reasonable starter flame.
How to Keep A Fire Strong
Once you’ve mastered creating a fire (almost with your bare hands), you must learn how to keep it burning.
This is especially the case if you have to spend a night somewhere in the wilderness; burning a fire will not only ward off wild animals but also allow you to cook and stay warm!
Top tips include:
- Scouring the area for enough wood (dry if possible); you must add to your fire as it starts to die down.
- Opting for hardwood over softwood, as hardwood has a much higher burn time.
- Poke the fire using a log or long stick, ensuring the logs remain mobile.
- Blow on it. You can use a piece of cardboard, fanning it over the fire or your mouth to ensure the flames get that much-needed oxygen.
Conclusion
Whether you’ve misplaced your lighter or matches, or you’ve been caught off guard, there are many reasons you may need to make a fire, and having a few unusual and creative survival skills to hand certainly won’t go amiss.
The bottom note? When you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere, a fire will ensure you and your crew stay warm, it’s a way to ward off any unwanted animals, and it’s something to cook on (even insects need to be cooked – presuming that’s all you can get your hands on!)
The above survival skills have been tried and tested, and following the tips and tricks of the recommended fire safety rules, fire starting with a twist is an easy feat!